Villach Alps

Caution: snowdrift accumulations and weak layers in the old snow

Caution: snowdrift accumulations and weak layers in the old snow

Fresh snow + moderate to strong southerly winds will generate further snowdrift accumulations, esp. on shady slopes above 2200m in gullies, bowls, behind protruberances in the terrain, which can be easily triggered or trigger naturally. Isolated danger zones occur on sunny wind-protected slopes above 2000m. In addition, avalanches can be triggered in the near-surface layers by large additional loading, these can often sweep along the thoroughly wet snowpack. Caution urged at the foot of rock walls, behind protruberances, and in gullies and bowls. Activity of small-to-medium loose-snow avalanches will increase significantly. Runout zones should be circumvented. On very steep grass-covered slopes, glide-snow avalanches are possible, also medium sized releases.

Since Wednesday above 2000m, about 25-50cm of fresh snow has been registered, locally more. Above 1600m 10-15cm of fresh snow still expected. Winds will transport the fresh snow. Fresh snow and drifts are being deposited on shady slopes above 1800m atop an unfavorable old snowpack surface (soft layers). More deeply embedded inside the snowpack, esp. on shady slopes, there are expansively metamorphosed (faceted) weak layers, esp. above 2300m. Moist snowpack up to intermediate altitudes, also to some extent at higher altitudes.

Persistent low-pressure front impact, thus, clouds will remain dense, summits will remain shrouded in fog. At 2000m: -2 degrees. Winds from S/SW will be moderate.

Not much change expected